Scam Spotlight: Letter Scams Target Descendants of Holocaust Survivors

There is no person that scammers will not try to take advantage of. Their schemes can either cast a wide net or be highly targeted to specific groups or individuals. In a case recently reported to DATCP, a scammer sent a letter to a descendent of Holocaust survivors and claimed to represent a “Holocaust Survivors Compensation Program” with the “Jewish Holocaust Claims Center” or JHCC. No such organization or program exists.

The well-written letter stated that due to international agreements, eligible victims and their descendants were receiving compensation from the German government. The letter correctly identified the recipient as being related to a survivor of the Holocaust and asked them to contact the JHCC’s regional office to finish processing their claim. Multiple forms of contact information were provided.

But when the consumer tried to visit the organization’s website, they could not find the webpage or any record of them existing at all. When they reexamined the letter, the consumer realized it was addressed to a stranger (despite the envelope being addressed with the consumer’s name and address) Further, the letter listed two separate names for the letter’s sender, and that the return address was different from the address of the regional office. Any of these could be a simple mistake, but all of them happening at once – in a letter that seemed to be offering free money – raised red flags for this consumer. They reported the letter to DATCP, and further research revealed the same fictional organization had sent letters to other consumers across the country.

The next time consumers think, “They know too much about me for this to be a scam!” or “No scammer would try to take advantage of such a small, specific group” they should remember that scammers get more sophisticated every day – and there is no strategy they won’t try.